Registered Nurse – Ambulatory Surgery Center
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Registered Nurse (RN) to join our ambulatory surgery center team. The ideal candidate will have strong perioperative nursing experience and be comfortable providing care throughout the patient's surgical experience, including pre-operative preparation, intraoperative circulating, and post-operative/PACU recovery.
This position requires a nurse who can independently assess patients, prepare and review charts, assist with procedures, circulate cases, monitor patients during recovery, administer medications, recognize changes in patient condition, and provide safe and appropriate discharge education.
Key ResponsibilitiesPre-Operative Nursing
- Perform comprehensive pre-operative nursing assessments, including vital signs, medical history, medication reconciliation, allergies, and review of relevant diagnostic information.
- Complete pre-operative chart preparation and review to ensure required documentation, orders, consents, labs, imaging, medical history, and other required information are available prior to the procedure.
- Identify missing or incomplete documentation and communicate appropriately with physicians, anesthesia personnel, and clinical staff.
- Establish IV access and administer IV fluids and medications as ordered.
- Prepare patients for procedures and provide pre-operative education and emotional support.
- Verify patient identity, procedure, surgical site, allergies, medications, and other applicable safety requirements.
- Communicate significant findings or changes in patient condition to the physician and anesthesia provider.
Intraoperative / Circulating Nurse
- Serve as circulating RN during procedures as assigned.
- Assist with room preparation, equipment, supplies, medications, and procedural setup.
- Maintain a safe and organized procedural environment.
- Participate in surgical/procedural time-out and other required patient safety processes.
- Maintain accurate intraoperative documentation.
- Monitor patient status and communicate changes promptly to the physician and anesthesia provider.
- Assist with positioning, transfer, and protection of patients throughout the procedure.
- Maintain appropriate infection prevention and aseptic technique.
- Ensure required specimens, medications, equipment, and documentation are properly managed.
- Assist with emergency response and stabilization of patients when necessary.
Post-Operative / PACU Nursing
- Provide post-anesthesia and post-procedure nursing care in the PACU/recovery area.
- Monitor vital signs, level of consciousness, respiratory status, pain level, and overall patient condition.
- Recognize and appropriately respond to changes in patient condition or potential post-procedure complications.
- Administer medications and treatments as ordered.
- Monitor patients for adverse reactions to medications, anesthesia, and procedures.
- Assess patients against established discharge criteria.
- Provide comprehensive discharge instructions to patients and caregivers, including medication instructions, activity restrictions, wound/procedure care, and signs and symptoms requiring medical attention.
- Ensure patients are appropriately discharged or transferred according to facility policy and physician/anesthesia orders.
- Complete all required post-operative and discharge documentation.
Chart Preparation and Documentation
- Prepare and review patient charts prior to scheduled procedures.
- Verify that required medical history, physicals, consents, orders, laboratory results, imaging, medication lists, allergies, and other required documentation are present and current.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and complete electronic medical record documentation.
- Document medications, vital signs, assessments, procedures, patient responses, recovery status, and discharge information.
- Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and applicable federal and state requirements.
Required Qualifications
- Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Arizona.
- Current BLS certification.
- Current ACLS certification.
- Previous pre-operative nursing experience.
- Previous post-operative/PACU experience.
- Previous experience working as an OR/procedural circulating nurse.
- Strong patient assessment and clinical decision-making skills.
- Experience with IV insertion and medication administration.
- Proficiency with electronic medical records (EMR/EHR).
- Strong understanding of infection prevention and aseptic technique.
- Ability to recognize and respond appropriately to changes in patient condition and medical emergencies.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Two or more years of perioperative, ASC, OR, PACU, or procedural nursing experience.
- Previous experience in an ambulatory surgery center.
- Experience with pain management, interventional spine, orthopedic, or musculoskeletal procedures.
- Experience with moderate sedation monitoring.
- Experience with pre-operative chart preparation and surgical case coordination.
- Experience with spinal injections, peripheral joint injections, trigger point injections, and other interventional pain procedures.
- ER, ICU, critical care, PACU, or other acute-care nursing experience.
- Experience caring for patients with complex medical needs or special populations.
Core Skills
- Pre-operative assessment and preparation
- PACU/post-operative recovery
- OR circulating
- IV insertion and medication administration
- Patient monitoring
- Emergency response
- Chart preparation and medical record review
- Procedural nursing
- Infection prevention and aseptic technique
- Patient education and discharge planning
- EMR documentation
- Pharmacology and medication safety
- Anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology
- Strong attention to detail and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced procedural environment
Certifications
- Arizona RN License – Required
- BLS – Required
- ACLS – Required
- Additional perioperative, PACU, or specialty certifications are preferred.
Work Schedule
Full-time, Monday through Friday.
Pay: $38.00 - $45.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
